In a moment of reckoning for monuments, why does the Rocky statue in Philadelphia continue to draw millions? The Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art delves into this question. Spanning over two millennia, it explores how artists have depicted boxing and public figures, with a focus on race, gender and celebrity.

The exhibition features works from ancient sculptures to contemporary art by Andy Warhol and Glenn Ligon, revealing how fighters are shaped as public icons. Visitors project ideals of perseverance onto the statue – values deeply rooted in the history of the sport and personal struggle.

Organised by Paul Farber, director of Monument Lab, it showcases over 150 works by more than 50 artists, offering an art history of the Rocky statue. The museum's Friday late-night pay-what-you-wish admission means everyone can join in. The accompanying publication includes contributions from local artist Alex Da Corte and former Philadelphia Eagle Malcolm Jenkins.

The exhibition unpacks how a movie prop became a public art piece and site of global pilgrimage, inviting visitors to explore the statue’s enduring appeal as a symbol of grit and spirit.